Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi refutes Jayalalithaa’s charge on compensation

CHENNAI: A sum of Rs. 57 crore, the unspent amount in the previous allotment of Rs. 200 crore for flood relief works, will now be spent on areas affected in the recent rains, M. Karuananidhi, Chief Minister, said here on Sunday.

Rebutting All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa’s criticism, Mr. Karunanidhi said that by way of compensation, Rs.56.5 crore was given to 3,60,954 farmers affected during the previous spell of heavy rainfall.

An amount of Rs. 143 crore was then spent on road works, lake maintenance, payment of solatium and repairs of bridges.

Referring to the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam founder Vijayakant’s observations on the education outlay in the budget, the Chief Minister pointed out that compared to the allocation of Rs. 4,110 crore in 2005-2006, Rs. 7,852 crore was set apart this year, marking 91 per cent increase.

On the Communist parties’ continued objections to the government’s decision on labour welfare boards, he said there was no need to entertain apprehensions unnecessarily when all the government works and organisations were under the supervision of the Chief Minister.

On an experimental basis, some functions had been entrusted with the Revenue Department and this would be on for six months. Officials under the control of Revenue Department, who were available in rural hamlets, would collect details regarding prospective beneficiaries of the welfare boards as there were no other government officials in such areas.

Commending the Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani for his visit to the residence of the Congress president Sonia Gandhi to greet her personally on the occasion of Holi, Mr. Karunanidhi said it was his wish that such a political culture should spread all over the country, especially in Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister also gave an account of several dams constructed during the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime.

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